NBA injury wave
Cade Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung and is expected to be out at least two weeks — a setback that could cost him the rest of the regular season (x.com). The league’s injury list also includes Lauri Markkanen (ankle/hip), likely season-ending, and Michael Porter Jr. (ankle/hamstring) — teams are suddenly recalibrating playoff plans around these absences (x.com).
Detroit has already reached the 50-win mark this season and entered the final 13 games of the 82-game regular season after compiling a 50-19 record. (basketball-reference.com) (nba.com) Cade Cunningham is posting 24.5 points and 9.9 assists per game in 2025-26, ranking among the league leaders in assists. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) Center Jalen Duren is averaging roughly 19.1 points and 10.6 rebounds this season and Tobias Harris is at about 13.1 points per game, numbers that represent Detroit’s primary secondary scoring and rebounding options. (proballers.com 1) (proballers.com 2) Brooklyn announced Michael Porter Jr. will be re-evaluated in 2–3 weeks after a left hamstring strain, and he entered the season averaging a career-high 24.2 points and 7.1 rebounds. (nba.com) (espn.com) Porter’s absence comes while the Nets sit near the bottom of the East with a roughly 17-53 record this season, a standing that has the team out of playoff contention. (basketball-reference.com) An MRI on Lauri Markkanen showed symptomatic hip impingement with inflammation and a bone bruise, and the Jazz said he will be re-evaluated in two weeks following that imaging. (espn.com)
